Oleophilic Lubricated Catheters

ABSTRACT

A medical device wherein the device has an outer surface coated with an oleophilic lubricous coating or the device is formed from a mixture including a polymer and an oleophilic compound.

RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a continuation of U.S. Nonprovisionalapplication Ser. No. 15/034,354, filed May 4, 2016, which is the U.S.National Stage of PCT International Application No. PCT/US2014/064254,filed Nov. 6, 2014, which claims the benefit and priority of U.S.Provisional Application No. 61/901,831, filed Nov. 8, 2013, and U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/944,173, filed Feb. 25, 2014, allof which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to lubricants for medical devices andlubricated medical devices that are inserted into the body. Moreparticularly, the present disclosure relates to oleophilic lubricantsand oleophilic lubricated medical devices for insertion into a bodylumen, e.g., urinary catheters and endoscopes.

BACKGROUND

Intermittent catheterization is a good option for many users who sufferfrom various abnormalities of the urinary system. Urinary cathetersystems typically include a long, thin, flexible tube that is insertedinto the urethra, past the trigone muscle and into the bladder to drainurine from the bladder. Urine flows through the catheter and iscollected, e.g., in a toilet or urine collection bag.

Catheters are commonly made from polymers, such as polyvinyl chloride(PVC) and polyurethane (PU). It is common to lubricate such catheters soas to reduce friction to allow for easier and less traumatic insertionand withdrawal of the catheter. Currently, there are two main categoriesof lubricated catheters, namely gel lubricated catheters and hydrophiliccoated catheters.

Gel lubricated catheters are made easier to insert and withdraw byapplication of lubricant (such as a water-based lubricant) on the outersurface of the catheter. A catheter can be supplied with lubricant whichis applied on the outer surface just before or during the packagingoperation. Alternatively, lubricant can be applied to the cathetersurface by a user as the catheter is being inserted into the urethra.However, the handling of gel lubricated catheters by the user can bemessy, leaving lubricant on the user's hands. Further, it can increasethe risk of infection from microorganisms being introduced into the bodythrough handling of the gel lubricated catheter.

In a hydrophilic coated catheter, the catheter is provided with a thinhydrophilic coating which is applied to the outer surface of thecatheter during its manufacture. The coating is activated by swellingthe hydrophilic material with a hydrating agent such as liquid water,water vapor, combinations thereof and the like to provide an extremelylow coefficient of friction surface. The most common form of thisproduct is one in which a sterile, individually packaged, single usecatheter is provided in a dry state or condition. The user opens thepackage, pours water into the package, waits a predetermined period oftime, for example, 30 seconds, and then removes the catheter from thepackage which is ready for insertion. Some hydrophilic coated cathetersare provided in a package that contains enough liquid water to cause itto be immersed. Others are provided with a separate packet of waterwithin the package wherein the packet contains a sufficient amount ofwater necessary to immerse the catheter within the package. In this typeof package, the packet is burst open within the package just prior touse.

One disadvantage of the hydrophilic coated catheters is that theimmersion liquid has a tendency to spill from the package as the userhandles the catheter and tries to remove it from the package forsubsequent insertion. Further, special packaging requirements increasethe complexity of such catheter systems. Another disadvantage of thehydrophilic coated catheter is that the catheter has an extremelyslippery surface which makes it quite difficult for the user to handleduring insertion.

Furthermore, interest in flushable catheters has been increasing.Flushable catheters may be made of water soluble polymers. Gellubricants and hydrophilic coatings may not be suitable for use withcatheters made of water soluble materials due to the water solublematerial's sensitivity to water.

Therefore, there is a need for improved catheters having a lubricioussurface without the user having to handle gel-lubricants and without therisk of water spillage while opening the package or activating thehydrophilic surface. The present disclosure provides improved cathetersaccording to various embodiments to provide an alternative lubricatedsurface.

BRIEF SUMMARY

There are several aspects of the present subject matter which may beembodied separately or together in the devices and systems described andclaimed below. These aspects may be employed alone or in combinationwith other aspects of the subject matter described herein, and thedescription of these aspects together is not intended to preclude theuse of these aspects separately or the claiming of such aspectsseparately or in different combinations as set forth in the claimsappended hereto.

In one aspect, a urinary catheter includes a catheter tube having anouter surface wherein a lubricious coating including one or moreoleophilic compounds is located or disposed on the outer surface of thecatheter tube.

In another aspect, a sterilized lubricated urinary catheter includes acatheter tube having an outer surface and a coating including one ormore oleophilic compounds located or disposed on the outer surface ofthe catheter tube. The coating and catheter tube are sterilized byradiation, such as gamma or e-beam radiation.

In yet another aspect, a medical device includes an outer surface havingan oleophilic lubricous coating disposed thereon, wherein the oleophiliclubricous coating is radiation sterilized and has a coefficient offriction of less than 0.2 as measured in accordance with the methodsdisclosed herein.

In another aspect, a catheter includes a catheter tube at leastpartially formed from a mixture comprising an oleophilic compound in anamount of about 0.5 percent by weight (wt. %) to about 20 wt. % of themixture and a polymer. The catheter may be radiation sterilized. Thesterilized or unsterilized catheter may have a coefficient of frictionless than 0.2 as measured in accordance with the methods disclosedherein.

In yet another aspect, a method of coating a catheter tube with alubricous coating includes placing the catheter tube into a liquid bathcontaining an oleophilic compound to deposit the oleophilic compound onan outer surface of the catheter. The catheter tube is removed from theliquid bath and, optionally, can be heated to anneal the oleophiliccompound on the outer surface of the catheter, if desired. The catheter,optionally, may be sterilized. For example, the catheter may besterilized with gamma radiation at a dose of between about 20 kGy andabout 40 kGy. Alternatively, it could be sterilized by other knownmethods such as steam, ethylene oxide or electron beams.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While the subject matter of the present disclosure is susceptible toembodiments in various forms, there will hereinafter be describedpresently preferred embodiments with the understanding that the presentdisclosure is to be considered an exemplification and is not intended tolimit the disclosure to the specific embodiments illustrated. The words“a” or “an” are to be taken to include both the singular and the plural.Conversely, any reference to plural items shall, where appropriate,include the singular.

The present disclosure is directed to lubricious medical devices thatinclude an oleophilic lubricous coating disposed on the outer surface ofthe medical device to enhance the lubricity of the medical device so asto ease insertion into the human body. The present disclosure is alsodirected to medical devices that are made from a blend or mixture of oneor more polymers and one or more oleophilic compounds wherein theaddition of the oleophilic compound to the mixture enhances thelubricity of the medical device to ease insertion into the human body.The medical devices may be, for example, those which are configured forinsertion into a lumen of a human body, such as the urethra, fallopiantubes, nasal passages or esophagus. Such medical devices may include,but are not limited to, urinary catheters and endoscopes. While thesubject matter disclosed herein may be described relative to urinarycatheters, the subject matter is not limited to such and such subjectmatter may apply to other suitable medical devices as well.

Urinary catheters typically include a catheter tube having an insertableportion that is inserted through the urethra and into the bladder todrain urine therefrom. The catheter tube may include a proximal endportion which is usually part of the insertable portion and is insertedthrough the urethra and into the bladder. The proximal end portion mayhave drainage eyes or holes that allow urine to drain from the bladderand through the catheter tube. The catheter tube also includes a distalend portion that may have a drainage element, such as a funnel,associated therewith to drain the urine into a collection container,such as a toilet or waste collection bag.

In one embodiment of a urinary catheter of the present disclosure, theouter surface of at least the insertable portion of the catheter has alubricous coating including one or more oleophilic compounds disposed onthe outer surface of the catheter. The oleophilic compound(s) lubricatethe outer surface of the catheter for easier and less traumaticinsertion of the catheter into and through the urethra.

In addition to oleophilic compounds, any of the coatings disclosedherein also may include other compounds, materials or additives as well.Such additional compounds, materials or additives may be included forany suitable purpose, such as increasing lubricity or enhancing adhesionof the coating.

Such oleophilic compounds and lubricous coatings may be especiallyuseful with catheters made from water degradable polymers, such as watersoluble polymers or polymers that deteriorate in water. Catheters madefrom water-degradable polymers may be designed to be disposed of byflushing the catheter down the toilet after use. For example, whenplaced in the toilet water, the catheter begins to dissolve or degradeso as to make it easier for the catheter material to be flushed down thetoilet and through the pipes of the sanitary system. Due to thecatheters' sensitivity to water (i.e., water solubility), such cathetersoftentimes cannot be pre-lubricated with water based gel lubricantsand/or hydrophilic coatings because the catheters may prematurelybreakdown when placed in contact with the gel lubricant or a wettedhydrophilic coating.

In one embodiment, a water degradable catheter tubing may be made fromany suitable water soluble polymer or any polymer that substantiallydeteriorates in water (e.g., by hydrolysis). One such polymer ispolyvinyl alcohol (PVOH). In other embodiments, the water degradablepolymers from which the tube is made may include polyacrylic acids,polylactic acid, polyesters, polyglycolide, poly lactic-co-glycolicacid, polylactide, amines, polyacrylamides, poly(N-(2-Hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide), starch, modified starches or derivatives, amylopectin,pectin, xanthan, scleroglucan, dextrin, chitosans, chitins, agar,alginate, carrageenans, laminarin, saccharides, polysaccharides,sucrose, polyethylene oxide, polypropylene oxide, acrylics, polyacrylicacid blends, poly(methacrylic acid), polystyrene sulfonate, polyethylenesulfonate, lignin sulfonate, polymethacrylamides, copolymers ofaminoalkyl-acrylamides and methacrylamides, melamine-formaldehydecopolymers, vinyl alcohol copolymers, cellulose ethers, poly-ethers,polyethylene oxide, blends of polyethylene-polypropylene glycol,carboxymethyl cellulose, guar gum, locust bean gum, hydroxyproplycellulose, vinylpyrrolidone polymers and copolymers, polyvinylpyrrolidone-ethylene-vinyl acetate, polyvinyl pyrrolidone-carboxymethylcellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose shellac, copolymers ofvinylpyrrolidone with vinyl acetate, hydroxyethyl cellulose, gelatin,poly-caprolactone, or combinations of any of the above materialsincluding PVOH. The water degradable materials may also be any of thosethat are included in certified flushable products that meet the NationalSanitation Foundation standards for flushability or materials andproducts that meet INDA/EDANA Flushability Guidelines. While cathetersmade from water degradable materials may be disposed of in a toilet, itis not necessary to dispose of such catheters in a toilet and suchcatheters may also be disposed in normal municipal waste systems orgarbage collection systems.

In other embodiments, the catheter may be made of other polymers such aspolyvinyl chloride (PVC), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), ethylenevinyl acetate copolymers (EVA), nylon ethylene oxide copolymers (PBAX)or blends or copolymer or multi-layer combinations of these.

The oleophilic compound that is coated on the outer surface may be anysuitable oleophilic compound. Additionally, the oleophilic lubricouscoating may include only one oleophilic compound or a mixture ofoleophilic compounds with or without other compounds or additives.

The oleophilic compound may include, for example, an oleated glycerol,such as glycerol mono, di, tri or mixed oleates, oleyl alcohol, oleicacid, and their mixtures with themselves or other molecules may also beused. The oleophilic coating applied to the outer surface of the medicaldevice may also include a mixture of any of the above mentionedoleophilic compounds. For example, the oleophilic coating may include amixture of one or more glycerol oleates or one or more glycerol oleateswith oleyl alcohol. In one embodiment, the oleophilic lubricious coatingincludes a mixture having between about 95.5 weight percent (wt. %) toabout 80 wt. % of glycerol oleate(s) (one or more glycerol oleates) andabout 0.5 wt. % to about 20 wt. % of oleyl alcohol. For example, thelubricious coating may include 95 wt. % glycerol oleate(s) and 5 wt. %of oleyl alcohol, or 90 wt. % glycerol oleate(s) and 10 wt. % oleylalcohol, or 80 wt. % glycerol oleate(s) and 20 wt. % oleyl alcohol. Inone embodiment, the glycerol oleate(s) are oleoyl-rac-glycerol, CASNumber 111-03-5, which is a mixture of glycerol mono, di andtri-oleates. In this embodiment, the coating may include 95 wt. %oleoyl-rac-glycerol and 5 wt. % of oleyl alcohol, or 90 wt. %oleoyl-rac-glycerol and 10 wt. % oleyl alcohol, or 80 wt. %oleoyl-rac-glycerol and 20 wt. % oleyl alcohol.

The oleophilic lubricous coating may be applied to the outer surface ofthe catheter or other medical device by any suitable coating process. Inone method of coating the catheter with the oleophilic lubricouscoating, the catheter is dipped or immersed in an oleophilic compound,such as a liquid bath of the oleophilic lubricous coating having one ormore oleophilic compounds. When the oleophilic compound is a solid atroom temperature, such as monooleate glycerol, the compound may beheated to melt the compound into liquid form. The catheter is left inthe oleophilic lubricious coating for any suitable amount of time and inone embodiment remains in the coating from about 30 seconds to about 60minutes or more. In one embodiment, the catheter remains in theoleophilic lubricious coating for about 1 minute to about 10 minutes.After the catheter is removed from the bath, it may be optionally heatedto anneal the coating and remove any excess liquid. For example, thecoated catheter may be placed in an oven heated to about 30° C. degreesto about 60° C. In one embodiment, the oven is heated to between about40° C. to about 50° C. The catheter may remain in the oven for a timeperiod of about 1 minute to about 24 hours. In one embodiment thatcatheter is placed in the oven for about 10 minutes.

As described in more detail below, the oleophilic coated catheters mayhave a coefficient of friction (CoF) of below 0.3 and more preferablybelow 0.2 as measured in accordance with the procedures described in thebelow Examples. In one embodiment, the catheter may comprise a waterdegradable catheter wherein the catheter tube is made of a waterdegradable polymer, such as PVOH, in which the outer surface of thecatheter is coated with an oleophilic coating including one or moreoleophilic compounds, such as those identified above, and has a CoF ofless than about 0.45, preferably less than about 0.3 and more preferablya CoF of less than about 0.2.

When the catheter is made from a water degradable polymer, a coating maybe applied to the inner and/or outer surfaces of the catheter toadvantageously delay substantial dissolution or hydrolysis of the waterdegradable polymer such that the catheter may maintain structuralintegrity during handling and use. The coating may create a barrierbetween the water/urine and the water degradable polymer wherein thecoating impedes or delays the contact between the water/urine and thesoluble polymer. In one embodiment, the coating may be of a type thatrepels water/urine.

A coating applied to the outer surface of the catheter may, for example,delay substantial dissolution of the catheter that can result fromhandling of the catheter. For instance, a coating on the outer surfaceof the catheter may delay substantial dissolution may occur whenhandling the catheter with wet hands, which may be wet from washing ofthe hands prior to catheterization or may be wet due to sweat. A coatingon the inner surface of the catheter may delay substantial dissolutionof the catheter as urine passes through the catheter during drainage ofthe bladder.

Additionally, varying the type, amount, location of application on thecatheter tube and other characteristics of the coating can be employedto tailor the dissolution/hydrolysis rate of the catheter. The abilityto reduce the rate of dissolution by delaying commencement ofdissolution, advantageously, may allow use of soluble polymers that aremechanically acceptable for catheter applications but dissolve too fastwhen exposed to water/urine.

In one embodiment, the coating for delaying substantial dissolution ofthe catheter includes or is any of the oleophilic compounds disclosedherein. For example, an oleophilic coating may be applied to a cathetermade from any of the water degradable material enclosed herein, such asPVOH. Varying the type and amount of oleophilic coating applied may beused to vary the delay of substantial distribution.

In another embodiment, the catheter may be formed from a mixturecontaining a polymer and an oleophilic compound. The polymer may be anyone of the water degradable polymers identified above or any otherpolymer identified herein. The polymer may also be ethylene-co-vinylacetate-co-maleic anhydride polymers (EVA-MA) or ethylene-co-vinylacetate copolymers (EVA). In one embodiment, the catheter is formed froma mixture including about 80 wt. % to about 99.5 wt. % of the polymerand about 0.5 wt. % to about 20 wt. % of an oleophilic compound or acombination of oleophilic compounds. Preferably, the mixture includesabout 88 wt. % to about 97 wt. % of EVA-MA, EVA or PVC and about 3 wt. %to about 12 wt. % of an oleophilic compound or combinations thereof, andmore preferably about 90 wt. % to about 95 wt. % of EVA-MA, EVA or PVCand about 10 wt. % to about 5 wt. % of an oleophilic compound orcombinations thereof.

Catheters of the present disclosure also may be made by co-extrusion toform a catheter having two or more layers. In one embodiment of aco-extruded catheter, the catheter includes at least one layer formedfrom a mixture containing a water degradable polymer and an oleophiliccompound, such as any of the above described mixtures, and another layerformed from a polymer, such as any of the water degradable polymersdisclosed herein or any other suitable water degradable polymer ormixtures thereof. In one example, a catheter made from co-extrusion maybe a bilayer catheter that includes an outer layer formed from apolymer/oleophilic compound mixture and an inner layer made from a waterdegradable polymer. The outer layer, which includes the oleophiliccompound, provides a lubricious outer surface for easing insertion ofthe catheter into and through the urethra. The inner layer, made of thewater degradable polymer, provides structural strength to the catheterto aid in handling and insertion of the catheter into the urethra.During urine drainage, the inner layer may begin dissolving and then bedesigned to quickly dissolve when disposed of in the toilet water afteruse. The dissolution of the inner layer weakens the structure of thecatheter and may make it easier for the catheter to be flushed down thetoilet and across the u-bend/trap of the sanitary system piping.

The polymer/oleophilic mixture layer may be a mixture of one or more ofPVOH, PVC, EVA or EVA-MA with any of the oleophilic compounds disclosedherein. Additionally, the polymer to oleophilic compound ratio by weightpercent may be any of those disclosed above. As mentioned above, thepolymer layer may be any of the water degradable polymers disclosedherein. In one example, the thickness of the outer polymer/oleophiliclayer is between about 10 micron and about 200 micron and is preferablyabout 50 microns. The inner layer has a thickness of between about 0.1mm and about 1 mm and is preferably about 0.6 mm. For instance, theouter layer may be a mixture of PVOH and an oleophilic compound whereinthe outer layer dissolves in water after about one hour and the innerlayer may be a highly soluble PVOH that rapidly dissolves in water. Suchrapidly dissolving PVOH may begin to dissolve during urine drainage andsubstantially dissolve soon after being place in toilet water fordisposal. In another catheter, the outer layer may be a mixture of oneor more of PVC, EVA or EVA-MA and an oleophilic compound and the innerlayer may be a saccharide, starch or cellulose. In yet another catheter,the inner layer may be other water degradable polymers, for example anyof the water degradable polymers disclosed herein.

All of the catheters or medical devices disclosed herein, optionally,may be sterilized by radiation. In one embodiment, the catheter ormedical devices disclosed herein may be sterilized with gamma radiationat a dose of about 20 kGy to about 40 kGy. In one example, a catheterhaving an oleophilic coating thereon or a catheter made from a blend ofpolymer(s) and an oleophilic compound(s) may be provided in a ready touse catheter assembly wherein the catheter is sealed in a liquid and gasimpermeable package, such as plastic films, an aluminum or aluminumlaminated package. The package including the catheter sealed therein maybe sterilized with radiation, preferably gamma radiation at a dose ofabout 20 kGy to about 40 kGy. In one embodiment, the catheter assemblyincludes a radiation sterilized catheter tube having at least theinsertable length thereof coated with one or more oleophilic compoundsand/or a catheter tube made from a blend or multi-layer tubes ofpolymers and one or more oleophilic compounds, wherein the catheter hasa COF of less than about 0.45, preferably less than about 0.3 and morepreferably less than about 0.2 as measured in accordance with theprocedures disclosed in the below Examples. The blending of one or moreoleophilic compounds with the polymer may also result in a delay ofsubstantial dissolution of the catheter.

EXAMPLES

In Examples 1-8, tubes formed from various materials were lubricatedwith different oleophilic compositions. The coefficients of friction(CoF) of the oleophilic lubricated tubes were then determined as anindication for their level of lubricity. An average CoF was calculatedfrom five different samples for each type of tube as described in moredetail below.

The tubes used in the below described examples were made with a singlescrew extruder and had an approximate outer diameter of 4 mm and aninner diameter of 3 mm. The tubes were made from one of the below listedpolymers.

-   -   Plasticized polyvinyl chloride with a shore hardness of 82 A        (PVC 82A) sold under the trade name MED 7536 by Raumedic,        Germany.    -   Polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) sold under the trade name Mowiflex LP        TC 251, supplied by Kuraray Plastics Co., Japan.    -   Thermoplastic polyurethane with a shore hardness of 85 A (TPU        85A) sold under the trade name Elastonllan 1185A by BASF, USA.    -   Plasticized polyvinyl chloride with a shore hardness of 90 A        (PVC 90A) sold under the trade name Colorite PVC WU9077G-0515        90A by Colorite, USA.    -   Ethylene-co-vinyl acetate-co-maleic anhydride (EVA-MA) sold        under the trade name Orevac 18211 by Arkema, France.    -   Ethylene-co-vinyl acetate (EVA) sold under the trade name        Evatane 25-28 supplied by Arkema, France.

The oleophilic compositions used in the Examples described below are asfollows:

-   -   Monooleate glycerol sold under the trade name Atmer 1440 by        Croda International, United Kingdom.    -   Oleoyl-rac-glycerol, which is a mixture of mono, di and        tri-oleate glycerols, supplied by SigmaAldrich, USA.    -   Tri-oleate glycerol sold under the trade name Priolube 1435 by        Croda, United Kingdom.    -   Oleic acid supplied by VWR International, USA.    -   Oleyl alcohol supplied by VWR International, USA.

CoFs of the coated and uncoated samples of tubes, as an indicator oftheir lubricity, were measured using a Harland Friction Tester ModelFTS5500. To determine the CoF of the tubes, a mandrel was inserted into127 mm section of the coated or uncoated tube being tested. The tube wasthen clamped between two pieces of silicone rubber at 100 g load whereinthe silicone rubber had a Shore hardness of 60 A. The tube with themandrel inserted therein was pulled through the two pieces of siliconerubber at a speed of 10 mm/s. The force required to pull about 80 mm ofthe tube through the two pieces of silicone rubber was measured andrecorded using a universal tensile tester equipped with a 200 N loadcell. The CoF value was calculated from the ratio of recorded to appliedloads (i.e., the recorded load divided by the applied load) when steadystate was reached. At least five test runs were conducted for each typeof coated tube and an average CoF value was calculated for each type oftube. For the uncoated tubing, three test runs were conducted for eachsample and the average CoFs for the uncoated tubes were calculated fromthe three test runs.

Example 1

Sections of tubes made from PVOH were coated by a dip coating process tocoat the outer surface of the tubes with glycerol monooleate. Themonooleate solution was kept in an oven at 40° C., the temperature whichit melts and become liquid. The PVOH tubes were dipped or placed intothe melted monooleate glycerol for five minutes. The tubes were removedfrom the monooleate glycerol and were held for 30 seconds in the oven todrain off the excess monooleate from its surface. The average CoF wasdetermined for the coated tubes as they were removed from the oven. Theaverage CoF of PVOH tubes in which the outer surface was uncoated wasalso determined for comparison purposes.

After the initial CoF measurement, further PVOH tubing were freshlycoated, removed from the solution and held inside the oven for differentperiod of times. The PVOH coated tubes remained in the oven for timeperiods of 10 minutes, 20 minutes and 30 minutes. The tubes were removedfrom the oven at the given time period and their CoFs were measured.

In a separate test, fresh tubes of PVOH were coated with glycerolmonooleate and removed from the oven. They were abraded 25 times bypassing the tubes through a hole which is just smaller than the outerdiameter of the tubes. The hole was punched in a 1 mm thick, siliconepad with Shore hardness of 60 A. This test was designed to remove anyportions of the coating that is not well adhered to the tubes. The CoFsof the abraded tubes were measured and an average CoF was calculated foreach type of tube. At room temperature, the glycerol monooleate coatedon the outer surface of the PVOH tubes can re-solidify. The measurementswere taken before the re-solidification. The re-solidification is morelikely to occur during the abrasion test as it takes time to completethe 25 cycle.

The CoF of the coated tubes were measured according to the proceduredescribed above and summarized in Table I below. The CoF of uncoatedPVOH tubes, as control, was similarly measured. The average CoF ofvirgin uncoated PVOH was found to be 0.909.

TABLE I Average CoF of PVOH Tubes Coated with Glycerol Monooleate Avg.Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. CoF CoF CoF CoF CoF of T = 0 T = 10 T = 20 T = 30Abraded Tube Samples mins mins mins mins tubes PVOH tubes coated 0.2030.191 0.199 0.195 0.199 with glycerol monooleate

Example 2

Sections of tubes made from PVC 82A, PVC 90A, TPU 85A and PVOH were dipcoated in oleoyl-rac-glycerol to coat the outer surface of the tubes.After the outer surfaces were coated, the average CoF of each type ofthe coated tubes was determined. The average CoF of each type ofuncoated tubes was also determined for comparison purposes.

Oleoyl-rac-glycerol, a mixture of glycerol mono, di and tri-oleates, washeated in an oven set at 40° C. for 30 minutes until theoleoyl-rac-glycerol was completely melted into liquid form. The meltedoleoyl-rac-glycerol was then allowed to cool, but remain in a liquidstate. Each of the above-mentioned sections of tubes was dipped orplaced into the melted oleoyl-rac-glycerol for five minutes. After thetubes were removed from the oleoyl-rac-glycerol they were placed in anoven set at 40° C. for 10 minutes to anneal the coating and removeexcess liquid.

The CoF of the coated and uncoated tubes were measured according to theprocedure described above. Additionally, coated PVC 82A, PVC 90A, TPU85A and PVOH tubes were kept in an oven set at 23° C. and 50% relativehumidity (RH) for the time periods of 10 minutes, 20 minutes and 30minutes after which, the CoF of the tubes was measured as describedabove.

In measuring the CoFs of the tubes at different time intervals, a new orfresh set of tubes was used at each time interval, i.e., the tubes usedat T=10 minutes were not used at T=20 minutes. In a separate test, freshsets of tubes made of PVOH, TPU 85A and PVC 82A were coated as above andwere abraded 25 times by passing the tubes through a hole which was justsmaller than the outer diameter of the tubes. The hole was punched in a1 mm thick, silicone pad with Shore hardness of 60 A. This test wasdesigned to remove any portions of the coating that is not well adheredto the tubes. The CoFs of each of the tubes were measured and an averageCoF was calculated for each type of tube. The average CoFs from Example2 are summarized in Table II.

As shown in Table II, reductions in CoF values at T=0 were observed inthe coated tubes as compared to uncoated tubes. Furthermore, the PVC82A, PVC90A and PVOH coated tubes substantially maintained theirlubricity for up to 30 minutes. Finally, the samples retain most oftheir low CoF values after the abrasion tests indicating theoleoyl-rac-glycerol is suitably adhered to these substrates.

TABLE II Average CoFs for Tubes Coated with Oleoyl- rac-glycerol andUncoated Tubes Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. CoF CoF CoF CoF CoF of T = 0 T =10 T = 20 T = 30 Abraded Tube Samples mins mins mins mins tubes PVOHtubes coated with 0.175 0.150 0.146 0.137 0.212 oleoyl-rac-glycerol PVOHuncoated tubes 0.909 — — — — TPU 85A tubes coated 0.186 0.236 — — 0.191with oleoyl-rac-glycerol TPU 85A uncoated tubes 0.937 — — — — PVC 82Atubes coated 0.231 0.204 0.202 0.205 0.326 with oleoyl-rac-glycerol PVC82A uncoated tubes 0.925 — — — — PVC 90A tubes coated 0.181 0.193 0.1460.137 — with oleoyl-rac-glycerol PVC 90A uncoated tubes 0.927 — — — —

Example 3

PVC 82A and PVOH tubes were coated with oleoyl-rac-glycerol in theabove-described manner. Each of the coated tubes was then individuallyplaced in an aluminium foil packaging which was heat sealed to enclosethe tube within the packaging. The aluminium packages having one of aPVC 82A or PVOH coated tube enclosed therein were sterilized using gammaradiation at nominal dose of 25 kGy. When each of the packages wasopened, a post-sterilization visual inspection was conducted. No majordiscoloration or other damage was observed. After inspection, the CoFsof PVC 82A and PVOH coated tubes were measured at time intervals T=0minutes after opening of the package and T=10 minutes after opening ofthe package. During the 10 minutes, the catheters were conditioned in anoven set at 23° C. and 50% RH. Additionally, sterilized coated PVC 82Aand PVOH tubes were abraded, as described above.

The results of Example 3 are summarized in Table III which shows thatthe sterilized coated tubes had similar or lower CoFs as compared to theunsterilized coated tubes of Example 2. These results indicate that thepolymer/oleoyl glycerol combinations are suitable for gammasterilisation and remain substantially stable after gamma sterilization.

TABLE III Average CoFs for Sterilized Tubes Coated withOleoyl-rac-glycerol Avg. Avg. Avg. CoF CoF CoF of T = 0 T = 10 AbradedTube Samples mins mins tubes Sterilized PVOH tubes coated 0.136 0.1290.127 with oleoyl-rac-glycerol Sterilized PVC 82A tubes coated 0.2230.205 0.225 with oleoyl-rac-glycerol

Example 4

Sections of tubes made from PVC 82A and PVOH were dip coated in glyceroltri-oleate to coat the outer surface of the tubes with glyceroltri-oleate. Similar to the previously described Examples, each of theabove-mentioned sections of tubes was dipped or placed into liquidglycerol tri-oleate for five minutes. After the tubes were removed fromthe glycerol tri-oleate they were placed in an oven set at 40° C. for 10minutes to anneal the coating and remove excess liquid. After the outersurfaces were coated, the average CoF of each type of the coated tubeswas determined.

The CoFs of the coated tubes were measured according to theabove-described procedure. After the dip coating process, the CoFs ofthe PVC 82A and PVOH tubes were measured at time intervals of 10, 20 and30 minutes. During the above-defined time intervals and prior tomeasurement, the tubes were held in an oven set at 23° C. and 50% RH. Afresh set of tubes was used to measure the CoF at each time interval.Additionally, fresh sets of tubes were abraded as described above andthe average CoF of the abraded tubes was calculated. The average CoFs ofExample 4 are summarized in Table IV.

TABLE IV Average CoF of PVOH and PVC 82A Tubes Coated with GlycerolTri-oleate Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. CoF CoF CoF CoF CoF of T = 0 T = 10T = 20 T = 30 Abraded Tube Samples mins mins mins mins tubes PVOH tubescoated with 0.188 0.169 0.169 0.175 0.201 glycerol tri-oleate PVC 82Atubes coated 0.236 0.226 0.242 0.232 0.163 with glycerol tri-oleate

Example 5

PVC 82A and PVOH tubes were coated with glycerol tri-oleate in themanner described above in Example 4. Each of the coated tubes was thenindividually placed in an aluminium foil packaging which was heat sealedto enclose the tube within the packaging. Each of the aluminium packageshaving one of a PVC 82A or PVOH coated tube therein was sterilized usinggamma radiation at a nominal dose of 25 kGy. When each of the packageswas opened, a post-sterilization visual inspection was conducted and nodamage to the catheter or coating was observed. After inspection, theCoFs of the PVC 82A and PVOH coated tubes were measured at timeintervals 0, 10, 20 and 30 minutes. The samples were kept in an oven setat 23° C. and 50% RH for the required time prior to the measurements.Fresh sets of tubes were used to measure the CoF at each time interval.Additionally, fresh sets of PVC 82A and PVOH tubes were abraded asdescribed above and the average CoF of the abraded tubes was calculated.

The results of Example 5 are summarized in Table V which shows that thesterilized coated tubes had substantially similar CoFs as thepre-sterile coated tubes of Example 4. These results indicate that thepolymer/glycerol tri-oleate combinations are suitable for gammasterilisation and remain substantially stable after gamma sterilization.

TABLE V Average CoF of Sterilized PVOH and PVC 82A Tubes Coated withTri-oleate glycerol Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. CoF CoF CoF CoF CoF of T =0 T = 10 T = 20 T = 30 Abraded Tube Samples mins mins mins mins tubesSterilized PVOH 0.211 0.193 0.232 0.219 0.187 tubes coated with glyceroltri-oleate Sterilized PVC 0.391 0.415 0.339 0.388 0.297 82A tubes coatedwith glycerol tri- oleate

Example 6

PVOH tubing was coated with a mixture of oleyl-rac-glycerol and oleylalcohol and the average CoF was determined. Samples of PVOH were soakedin Oleoyl rac glycerol and it mixtures with Oleyl alcohol for fiveminutes. They were then place in an oven at 40° C. for 10 minutes toanneal and remove excess liquids. The mixtures of oleyl-rac-glycerol tooleyl alcohol that were used to coat the tubes are as follows: 100%oleyl-rac-glycerol; 95 wt. % oleyl-rac-glycerol/5 wt. % oleyl alcohol;90 wt. % oleyl-rac-glycerol/10 wt. % oleyl alcohol; and 80 wt. %oleyl-rac-glycerol/20 wt. % oleyl alcohol. The CoFs of the PVOH tubescoated with the different mixtures of oleyl-rac-glycerol and oleylalcohol were measured in the above described manner and the average CoFsare summarized in table VI. Additionally the CoFs of the coated tubeswere measured at time intervals of 10, 20 and 30 minutes after the dipcoating process. The tube samples were kept in an oven set at 23° C. and50% RH for the above time period prior to the measurements. Fresh setsof coated tubes were used to measure the CoF at each time interval.Additionally, fresh tubes were abraded in the above discussed manner andthe average CoF of the abraded tubes was calculated. As shown in TableVI, low CoF values, (i.e., high lubricity), were obtained with oleylalcohol present.

TABLE VI Average CoFs for Tubes Coated with Mixtures ofOleyl-rac-glycerol and Oleyl Alcohol Oleyl rac Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg.glycerol wt. %/ CoF CoF CoF CoF Abraded Oleyl alcohol T = 0 T = 10 T =20 T = 30 CoF wt. % mins mins mins mins tubes 100%/0%  0.192 0.190 0.1870.190 0.154 95%/5%  0.182 0.185 0.189 0.185 0.167 90%/10% 0.181 0.1820.185 0.186 0.166 80%/20% 0.172 0.176 0.181 0.185 0.157

Example 7

Sections of PVOH, TPU 85A, PVC 82A and PVC 90A tubes were coated witholeic acid. Tube samples were soaked in oleic acid for five minutesafter which the CoFs of the tubes were measured as described above.

The CoFs were measured after the tubes were removed from the oleic acid(T=0). The CoFs of tubes were also measured after the time intervals of10, 20 and 30 minutes. The samples were kept in an oven set at 23° C.and 50% RH for the required time prior to the measurements.Additionally, fresh tubes were abraded in the manner described above andthe average CoFs of the abraded tubes were calculated. As shown in TableVII, low CoF values were obtained for the tubes coated with oleic acid.

TABLE VII Average CoFs of Tubes Coated with Oleic Acid Avg. Avg. Avg.Avg. Avg. CoF CoF CoF CoF CoF T = 0 T = 10 T = 20 T = 30 Abraded Tubesmins mins mins mins tubes PVOH 0.237 0.222 0.215 0.253 0.219 TPU 85A0.213 0.225 0.254 0.226 0.208 PVC 82A 0.196 0.197 0.211 0.260 0.203 PVC90A 0.178 0.171 0.177 0.183 0.178

Example 8

A mixture of 90 wt. % of EVA and 10 wt. % glycerol monooleate was meltblended in a twin screw extruder at temperatures between 100° C. to 150°C. The mixture was then used to make tubes using a single screwextruder. Similarly, tubes were made from each of the followingmixtures: EVA-MA 90 wt. %/10 wt. % glycerol monooleate 1; 90 wt. % PVC90A/10 wt. % glycerol monooleate; and 90 wt. % PVC 90A/10 wt. %oleoyl-rac-glycerol. The CoF of each of the tubes was measured in theabove-described manner. Furthermore, in a separate test, fresh tubeswere abraded in the manner described above and the CoFs of the abradedtubes were measured and average CoF of each type of tube was calculated.

As shown in Table VIII, there is a reduction in CoF values for tubesmade from the mixture as compared to the virgin polymers.

TABLE VIII Average CoFs of Tubes Made from Blends of Polymers andOleophilic Compounds And Average CoFs of Tubes Made from Virgin PolymersAvg. CoF of Tubes Samples Avg. CoF Abraded tubes 90 wt. % EVA/ 0.1620.255 10 wt. % glycerol monooleate Virgin/unmodified EVA 0.934 — 90 wt.% EVA-MA/ 0.190 0.259 10 wt. % glycerol monooleate Virgin/unmodifiedEVA-MA 0.925 — 90 wt. % PVC 90A/ 0.187 0.216 10 wt. % glycerolmonooleate 90 wt. % PVC 90A/ 0.161 0.194 10 wt. % Oleoyl-rac-glycerol

Example 9

Bi-layer tubes of PVOH were made from coextruded PVOH polymers. Thetubes included an inner layer of 8095 PVOH and an outer layer of 8120PVOH, both supplied by G Polymer. The bi-layer tubes included an outerdiameter of about 4.7 mm and an inner diameter between about 0.7 mm toabout 0.8 mm.

Sections of the tube where coated with oleoyl-rac-glycerol and thendissolved in water to test the rate of dissolution of the coated tubes.Uncoated sections of the tube were also dissolved in water forcomparison.

To coat the tubes, oleoyl-rac-glycerol was place in an oven heated toabout 50° C. for 1 hour. The heated oleoyl-rac-glycerol was removed fromthe oven and 10 cm sections of the bi-layer PVOH tubes where placed inthe heated oleoyl-rac-glycerol for 10 minutes and then removed.

Each of the coated and uncoated section of tubes where then cut into 5cm pieces and separately placed in water. The water with the pieces oftubes therein was stirred with a VMS-C7 VWR stirrer at a setting of two.The time periods for which it took to dissolve 95% of the pieces of tubein the stirred water, as measured by visual indication with the nakedeye, and visual observations were recorded.

As shown in Table IX below, the coated sections of tubing took a longertime to dissolve than the uncoated section.

TABLE IX Dissolution Times for Uncoated and Oleate-Coated PVOH TubingDissolu- tion Time (>95% of tubing had dissolved/ Volume no longer ofvisible to Run Tube Samples Water naked eye) Observations 1 Bi-layerPVOH 80 ml 58 mins Couple of very small tube coated pieces or gel likewith oleoyl- materials still present rac-glycerol at 58 minutes 2Uncoated 80 ml 32 mins Substantially dissolved Bi-layer at 52 mins.Pieces PVOH tube remaining appeared to be from cut end of tubing 3Uncoated 80 ml 34 mins Substantially dissolved Bi-layer at 32 minutes.One small PVOH tube gel from end of tubing remained present until 52minutes 4 Bi-layer PVOH 1000 ml 45 mins Substantially dissolved tubescoated at 45 minutes. One lump with oleoyl- of material that wasrac-glycerol about 10% of the tube took longer than 45 minutes todissolve At 58 minutes only small bits of fluffy material remained. 5Uncoated 1000 ml 28 min Substantially dissolved Bi-layer at 28 minutes.Last PVOH tube remaining small gel disappeared at 30 mins

From the foregoing it will be observed that numerous modifications andvariations can be effectuated without departing from the true spirit andscope of the novel concepts of the present invention. It is to beunderstood that no limitation with respect to the specific embodimentsillustrated is intended or should be inferred. The disclosure isintended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fallwithin the scope of the claims.

Aspects of the present subject matter described above may be beneficialalone or in combination with one or more other aspects. Without limitingthe foregoing description, in accordance with one aspect of the subjectmatter herein, there is provided a urinary catheter, which includes acatheter tube having an outer surface and a lubricious coatingcomprising one or more oleophilic compounds disposed on the outersurface of the catheter tube.

In accordance with a second aspect which may be used or combined withthe 1^(st) aspect the catheter tube may be comprised of a waterdegradable polymer.

In accordance with a third aspect which may be used or combined with the2^(nd) aspect the water degradable polymer may be polyvinyl alcohol.

In accordance with a fourth aspect which may be used or combined withthe aspect the catheter tube may be comprised of one or more ofpolyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, ethylene-co-vinyl acetate-co-maleicanhydride and ethylene-co-vinyl acetate.

In accordance with a fifth aspect which may be used or combined with anyof the preceding aspects, the oleophilic compound may be comprised ofone or more of glycerol monooleate, oleoyl-rac-glycerol, glyceroltri-oleate, oleic acid and oleyl alcohol or their mixtures.

In accordance with a sixth aspect which may be used or combined with anyof the preceding aspects, the catheter has a coefficient of friction ofless than about 0.45, preferably less than about 0.3 and more preferablyless than about 0.2.

In accordance with a seventh aspect which may be used or combined withany of the preceding aspects, the coating may be coated onto the outersurface of the catheter tube.

In accordance with an eighth aspect which may be used or combined withany of the preceding aspects, the coating may be dip coated onto theouter surface of the catheter tube.

In accordance with a ninth aspect, there is provided a sterilizedlubricated urinary catheter including a catheter tube having an outersurface, a coating comprising one or more oleophilic compounds disposedon the outer surface of the catheter tube, and wherein the coating andcatheter tube are sterilized.

In accordance with a tenth aspect, which may be used or combined withthe 9^(th) aspect, the catheter tube may be comprised of a waterdegradable polymer.

In accordance with an eleventh aspect, which may be used or combinedwith the 10^(th) aspect, the water degradable polymer may be polyvinylalcohol.

In accordance with a twelfth aspect, which may be used or combined withthe 9^(th) aspect, the catheter tube may be comprised of one or more ofpolyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, ethylene-co-vinyl acetate-co-maleicanhydride and ethylene-co-vinyl acetate.

In accordance with a thirteenth aspect, which may be used or combinedwith any of the 9^(th)-12^(th) aspects, the oleophilic compound maycomprise one or more of glycerol monooleate, oleoyl-rac-glycerol,glycerol tri-oleate, oleic acid and oleyl alcohol or their mixtures.

In accordance with a fourteenth aspect, which may be used or combinedwith any of the 9^(th)-13^(th) aspects, the coating may be coated ontothe outer surface of the catheter tube.

In accordance with a fifteenth aspect, which may be used or combinedwith any of the 9^(th)-14^(th) aspects, the coating and catheter may besterilized by e-beam, gamma, steam, microwave or ethylene oxide.

In accordance with a sixteenth aspect, which may be used or combinedwith any of the 9^(th)-15^(th) aspects, the radiation may be betweenabout 20 kGy and about 40 kGy of gamma radiation.

In accordance with a seventeenth aspect which may be used or combinedwith any of the preceding aspects, the coating may delay substantialdissolution of the catheter.

In accordance with an eighteenth aspect which may be used or combinedwith any of the preceding aspects, the coating containing one or moreoleophilic compounds may be applied to an inner lumen of the catheterand the coating delays substantial dissolution of the catheter.

In accordance with an nineteenth aspect, there is provided a medicaldevice including an outer surface, and an oleophilic lubricous coatingdisposed on the outer surface, wherein the oleophilic lubricous coatingis radiation sterilized and has a coefficient of friction of less thanabout 0.45 and preferably less than about 0.3 and more preferably lessthan about 0.2.

In accordance with a twentieth aspect which may be used or combined withthe 19^(th) aspect, the outer surface of the medical device is comprisedof a water degradable polymer.

In accordance with a twenty first aspect which may be used or combinedwith the 20^(th) aspect, the water degradable polymer may be polyvinylalcohol.

In accordance with a twenty second aspect which may be used or combinedwith the 19^(th) aspect, the catheter tube may be comprised of one ormore of polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, ethylene-co-vinylacetate-co-maleic anhydride and ethylene-co-vinyl acetate.

In accordance with a twenty third aspect which may be used or combinedwith the any one of the 10^(th)-22^(nd) aspects, the oleophilic compoundmay comprise one or more of glycerol monooleate, oleoyl-rac-glycerolglycerol, tri-oleate, oleic acid and oleyl alcohol.

In accordance with a twenty fourth aspect which may be used or combinedwith any one of the 19^(th)-22^(nd) aspects, the coating may be dipcoated onto the outer surface of the medical device.

In accordance with a twenty fifth aspect which may be used or combinedwith any one of the 19^(th)-24^(th) aspects, the coating may be gamma ore-beam sterilized.

In accordance with a twenty sixth aspect which may be used or combinedwith any one of the 19^(th)-25^(th) aspects, the radiation may bebetween about 20 kGy and about 40 kGy of gamma radiation.

In accordance with a twenty seventh aspect, there is provided, acatheter including a catheter tube at least partially formed from amixture comprising an oleophilic compound and a polymer wherein theoleophilic compound is in an amount of about 0.5 percent by weight (wt.%) to about 20 wt. % of the mixture.

In accordance with a twenty eighth aspect which may be used or combinedwith the 27^(th) aspect, the polymer may be in an amount of about 95.5wt. % and 80 wt. % of the mixture.

In accordance with a twenty ninth aspect which may be used or combinedwith any one of the 27^(th) and 28^(th) aspects, the polymer may bewater degradable.

In accordance with a thirtieth aspect which may be used or combined withthe 29^(th) aspect, the water degradable polymer may be polyvinylalcohol.

In accordance with a thirty first aspect which may be used or combinedwith any one of the 27^(th) and 28^(th) aspects, the polymer may be oneor more of polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, ethylene-co-vinylacetate-co-maleic anhydride and ethylene-co-vinyl acetate.

In accordance with a thirty second aspect which may be used or combinedwith any one of the 27^(th)-31^(st) aspects, the oleophilic compound maybe one or more of glycerol monooleate, oleoyl-rac-glycerol, glyceroltri-oleate, oleic acid and oleyl alcohol.

In accordance with a thirty third aspect which may be used or combinedwith any one of the 27^(th)-32^(nd) aspects, the oleophilic compound maybe about 0.5 wt. % of the mixture and the polymer is about 95.5 wt. % ofthe mixture.

In accordance with a thirty fourth aspect which may be used or combinedwith any one of the 27^(th)-32^(nd) aspects, the oleophilic compound maybe about 5 wt. % of the mixture and the polymer is about 95 wt. % of themixture.

In accordance with a thirty fifth aspect which may be used or combinedwith any one of the 27^(th)-32^(nd) aspects, the oleophilic compound maybe about 10 wt. % of the mixture and the polymer is about 90 wt. % ofthe mixture.

In accordance with a thirty sixth aspect which may be used or combinedwith any one of the 27^(th)-32^(nd) aspects, the oleophilic compound maybe about 15 wt. % of the mixture and the polymer is about 85 wt. % ofthe mixture.

In accordance with a thirty seventh aspect which may be used or combinedwith any one of the 27^(th)-32^(nd) aspects, the oleophilic compound maybe about 20 wt. % of the mixture and the polymer is about 90 wt. % ofthe mixture.

In accordance with a thirty eighth aspect which may be used or combinedwith any one of the 27^(th)-32^(nd) aspects, the catheter may beradiation sterilized.

In accordance with a thirty ninth aspect which may be used or combinedwith any one of the 27^(th)-38^(th) aspects, the catheter may have acoefficient of friction of less than about 0.45 and preferably less thanabout 0.3 and more preferably less than about 0.2.

In accordance with a fortieth aspect which may be used or combined withany one of the 27^(th)-39^(th) aspects, the catheter may include aninner layer and an outer layer wherein the outer layer is formed fromthe mixture of oleophilic compound and the polymer.

In accordance with a forty first aspect which may be used or combinedwith the 40^(th) aspect, the thickness of the outer layer may be betweenabout 10 micron and about 200 micron, and preferably about 50 microns.

In accordance with a forty second aspect which may be used or combinedwith any one of the 40^(th) and 41^(st) aspects, the inner layer may bemade from a water degradable polymer.

In accordance with a forty third aspect which may be used or combinedwith the 42^(nd) aspect, the water degradable polymer of the inner layermay be one or more of polyvinyl alcohol, saccharide, starch orcellulose.

In accordance with a forty forth aspect, there is provided, a method ofcoating a catheter tube with a lubricous coating including placing thecatheter tube into a liquid bath containing an oleophilic compound todeposit the oleophilic compound on an outer surface of the catheter,removing the catheter from the liquid bath, and heating the catheter toanneal the oleophilic compound on the outer surface of the catheter.

In accordance with a forty fifth aspect which may be used or combinedwith the 44^(th) aspect, the method further includes melting theoleophilic compound to form the liquid bath.

In accordance with a forty sixth aspect which may be used or combinedwith the 44^(th) aspect, the catheter tube may be comprised of a waterdegradable polymer.

In accordance with a forty seventh aspect which may be used or combinedwith the 46^(th) aspect, the water degradable polymer may be polyvinylalcohol.

In accordance with a forty eighth aspect which may be used or combinedwith the 44^(th) aspect, the catheter tube may be comprised of one ormore of polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, ethylene-co-vinylacetate-co-maleic anhydride and ethylene-co-vinyl acetate.

In accordance with a forty ninth aspect which may be used or combinedwith any one of the 44^(th)-48^(th) aspects, the oleophilic compound maycomprise one or more of monooleate glycerol, oleoyl-rac-glycerol,tri-oleate glycerol, oleic acid and oleyl alcohol.

In accordance with a fiftieth aspect which may be used or combined withany one of the 44^(th)-49^(th) aspects, the method further includesirradiating the catheter tube having the oleophilic compound depositedthereon.

In accordance with a fifty first aspect, there is provided, a urinarycatheter including a catheter tube formed from a water degradablepolymer, and a coating disposed on the catheter tube, wherein thecoating delays substantial dissolution of the water degradable polymer.

In accordance with a fifty second aspect which may be used or combinedwith the 51^(st) aspect, the coating may comprise one or more oleophiliccompounds.

In accordance with a fifty third aspect which may be used or combinedwith any one of the 51^(st) and 52^(nd) aspects, the coating may beapplied to an outer surface of the catheter tube.

In accordance with a fifty forth aspect which may be used or combinedwith any one of the 51^(st)-53^(rd) aspects, the coating may be appliedto an inner surface of a lumen of the catheter tube.

In accordance with a fifty fifth aspect which may be used or combinedwith any one of the 51^(st)-54^(th) aspects, the water degradablepolymer may comprise PVOH.

What is claimed is:
 1. A catheter, comprising: a catheter tube at leastpartially formed from a mixture comprising an oleophilic compound and apolymer wherein the oleophilic mixture is in an amount of about 0.5percent by weight (wt. %) to about 20 wt. % of the mixture.
 2. Thecatheter of claim 1 wherein the polymer is in an amount of about 95.5wt. % and 80 wt. % of the mixture.
 3. The catheter of claim 1 whereinthe polymer is water degradable.
 4. The catheter of claim 3 wherein thewater degradable polymer is polyvinyl alcohol.
 5. The catheter of claim1 wherein the polymer is one or more of polyvinyl chloride,polyurethane, ethylene-co-vinyl acetate-co-maleic anhydride andethylene-co-vinyl acetate.
 6. The catheter of claim 1 wherein theoleophilic compound is one or more of glycerol monooleate,oleoyl-rac-glycerol, glycerol tri-oleate, oleic acid and oleyl alcohol.7. The catheter of claim 1 wherein the oleophilic compound is about 0.5wt. % of the mixture and the polymer is about 95.5 wt. % of the mixture.8. The catheter of claim 1 wherein the oleophilic compound is about 5wt. % of the mixture and the polymer is about 95 wt. % of the mixture.9. The catheter of claim 1 wherein the oleophilic compound is about 10wt. % of the mixture and the polymer is about 90 wt. % of the mixture.10. The catheter of claim 1 wherein the oleophilic compound is about 15wt. % of the mixture and the polymer is about 85 wt. % of the mixture.11. The catheter of claim 1 wherein the oleophilic compound is about 20wt. % of the mixture and the polymer is about 90 wt. % of the mixture.12. The catheter of claim 1 wherein the catheter is radiationsterilized.
 13. The catheter of claim 1 wherein the catheter has acoefficient of friction of less than about 0.45 and preferably less thanabout 0.3 and more preferably less than about 0.2.
 14. The catheter ofclaim 1 wherein the catheter includes an inner layer and an outer layerwherein the outer layer is formed from the mixture of oleophiliccompound and the polymer.
 15. The catheter of claim 14 wherein thethickness of the outer layer is between about 10 micron and about 200micron, and preferably about 50 microns.
 16. The catheter of claim 14wherein the inner layer is made from a water degradable polymer.
 17. Thecatheter of claim 16 wherein the water degradable polymer of the innerlayer is one or more of polyvinyl alcohol, saccharide, starch orcellulose.
 18. A method of coating a catheter tube with a lubricouscoating, comprising: placing the catheter tube into a liquid bathcontaining an oleophilic compound to deposit the oleophilic compound onan outer surface of the catheter; removing the catheter from the liquidbath; heating the catheter to anneal the oleophilic compound on theouter surface of the catheter.
 19. The method of claim 18 furtherincluding melting the oleophilic compound to form the liquid bath. 20.The method of claim 18 wherein the catheter tube is comprised of a waterdegradable polymer.